Recent Read: Romantic Suspense Flaming Retribution and the Weather here is Flaming Hot!

So let's see what you need to know if you like Romantic Suspense. This book has a little swearing. It's closed door. Almost all of the book, they are catching feelings but not acting on them, so a very slow burn. The MFC has a cat. The MMC is a stripper and a fireman. The main male character is named Skye and the female main character is named Kendall. And in my brain, I kept swapping their genders when I started reading. The Skyes I know are all women, and I know a few guys who are Kendall. So, that's how that happened. If this sounds like a book you'd like to check out, it is available as a ebook on Amazon, and maybe other places. Here is the Amazon link: https://a.co/d/fNrOyp5

 

Recently in addition to very hot weather and high humidity, we got a bunch of rain. This is a patch of mushrooms I saw in a neighbor's yard when I was out for a run.

Oh No The End Is Near--Back to School Is Coming!

 

August is here and that means--nope I don't want to say it. I'll save it for at least another week.

So here are a couple of very different books I enjoyed recently via my Kindle Unlimited subscription. Cat Dish Gin is a slice of life book by Heather Curlee Novak. It reminded me of when I was a kid and took my mom's Erma Bombeck books and read them. Heather's book was so enjoyable that I didn't want it to end!

Here is more info on the book:

Cat Dish Gin – Life’s Chaos, Served with a Twist of Humor

Ever had a moment so ridiculous it made you wonder if Jesus Himself might take a sip of gin straight from a cat dish? Welcome to Cat Dish Gin—a sharp, witty, and wildly relatable collection of NPR essays that turn the everyday mess of marriage, motherhood, work, and aging into laugh-out-loud, life-affirming moments.

From mastering the art of parenting while losing your sanity to finding joy in life’s smallest (and strangest) victories, these bite-sized essays are perfect for women who need a reminder that imperfection is its own kind of magic.

💡 For fans of Anne Lamott, Gretchen Rubin, and Dorothy Parker.
📖 Short, bingeable, and best enjoyed out loud.
🎁 The perfect gift for moms, grandmas, and wild women everywhere.

Read Cat Dish Gin now and laugh your way to a more joyful life!: https://a.co/d/5JbCL0V

And then for something completely different, I read a romance about the tooth fairy falling in love with a human. I'm not sure if Lord Pearl by Rowen Burrows is considered a paranormal romance or romantasy. It's all about the gods and goddesses and all sorts of magic beings like the tooth fairy and the sandman. 

Here is the link to check it out- https://a.co/d/3phKAkU

Belief can be a powerful thing. Belief can be the difference between life and death.

One moment, one decision, can change the course of your life.
For Lillian Tooth, one decision left her cursed to be the Tooth Fairy.
For Grayson Simmons, one moment introduced him to the Tooth Fairy and the world of magic.

Lillian is legendary, but that doesn’t mean she is brave. Grayson is her best friend, and she has fallen for him.
Her curse leaves her afraid of rejection.

Grayson is honoured to be part of Lillian’s world. She is his best friend. Of course, he has thought about more, but he is human.
He is not worthy.

When a harmless game reveals their true feelings, they have choices to make and fears to face.
Choices and fears that can change the course of not just their lives, but magic…

Oh Shoot It's My Birthday Month. #TheSundayPost

  

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

I would say it seems like school just let out at the beginning of June. But honestly, it's been a long summer. And a hot one. I am imagining that we will have hot weather into October. We finished our third raised garden bed finally, and I think I'm going to go ahead and try planting some herbs and see how it goes. If they get to be around six inches high, I can transplant them and bring them inside for winter. And if they don't come up, I can get some mums in containers the second half of September and have some nice color by our walkway. 

It's my birthday month, so wouldn't it be nice if I didn't have to cook all month? Maybe I should ask for a no-cooking month for my birthday?

Streamingwise, we watched High Town on Netflix it's a good show. I like the main character Jackie, she is very compelling. The actress that plays her is Monica Raymund. How about you? What are you watching or reading? 

Talking Christmas in July Before it's August!

 It's the last day of July, and here I am with a Christmas in July reading recommendation. But let's face it, before we know it, the holiday season will be here. Now is as good a time as any to pick up a cozy sweet Christmas novella by Stephanie J. Scott.

OMG Christmas Tree gives you all the small town Christmas vibes and features a 'big city girl' and a 'small town guy' you may think you know exactly how it's going to end--but then again, maybe you don't.

This is a massively merry little book. If you like the Christmas time of year, do yourself a favor and pick this up--save it for a rainy day comfort read!

And speaking of Christmas, recently I was sorting old paperwork and photos that were my mother-in-laws and I came across this postcard that was sent in 1910! 

Happy Release Day To Your Mr. Brightside!

You would think since it is release day, the hard work is done! But honestly this is actually when the hard work really begins! Ugh! Marketing!

I hope people enjoy the story of Brandee and Luc finding love. If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read Your Mr. Brightside as part of your subscription. And as I'm sure you already know, reviews are super important for indie authors. I appreciate it so much when readers take the time to rate or also rate and review!

Want to know more about Your Mr. Brightside? Here you go:

Love is the last thing on her mind. A curvy girl is the last thing on his. One fateful night will change everything.

Brandee doesn’t have time to date. Between two jobs and raising her son, life is all about survival. When a rare night off lands her in a handsome man’s arms, everything changes. But he’s too young, too carefree, and so not ready for her messy life.

Luc’s life was perfectly planned. Then he meets a stunning, curvy woman and wants nothing more than to see her again. When they run into each other months after their steamy night together, Luc is determined to show Brandee why she should take a chance on him.

Just when Brandee is ready for a relationship with Luc, surprising developments change everything. How can she drag Luc into her mess? He’s ready for a lifetime with Brandee, but if she won’t take down the walls keeping him out, how long does Luc hang on?

Will Brandee stop assuming the worst and look on the bright side?

If you love steamy small-town romance with a sunshine guy who falls first, a single mom, and an age-gap where she is older, Your Mr. Brightside will tick all your boxes!

https://a.co/d/fXMiqul

An Excellent Mystery - Play The Fool

 

Since I'm out of school on break, I'm trying to go for runs outside my neighborhood. This week I ran at one of our forest preserves. It was a hot one, but every day is a hot one this summer. After my run, I thought, what the heck, let's finish this book. "Play The Fool" by Lina Chern is about a woman who is stuck. She works at a store in the Mall and has one friend. Then that friend is killed. Our main character is obsessed with finding the killer and makes some questionable decisions on the way. It's sort of a cozy in that an amateur sleuth is trying to solve a murder, there is a romance subplot, and our main character has a quirky skill (she's a tarot card reader). It's also not a cozy. It's a great read. I highly recommend adding it to your TBR. 

The Sunday Post -- Just a Few Days Left in July!

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

I hope you had a nice week! I began writing my next book. This one is the love story of Hannah and Kate and will be the first book in my Marley Creek spin off series. In this book I'm planning to have it be lower level of spice. Wish me Luck!

Also, Your Mr. Brightside comes out on Wednesday!  I am excited for people to watch Brandee and Luc's story unfold! 

Streaming TV we watched this week included the show "Untamed" which stars Eric Bana. It's a good short (less than 8 episodes) binge watch. I think if you enjoyed the show "Big Sky" this is one to watch. 

We also watched "The Hunting Wives" which is based on a book and it's pretty bonkers. If you like murder mysteries with questionable people and can turn off the logical part of your brain, give this a watch. It's like very R rated with mini series of the 80s vibes (but takes place now). 

My zucchini plants have begun producing! I'm so excited!

Regular People Books

I like romances that feature regular people. I like them so much that's what I write. Written in the Cards is a delightful book about an artist who becomes a runaway bride and then an art teacher. She is working through grief. The main male character is the school custodian! I don't think I've ever read a book where the love interest was the custodian. 

The book is a perfect weekend read. A five-star treat. The next book in the series is on my TBR ready to go! 

 Have you read any good books lately? Next up is another book that features a tarot card reader, "Play The Fool"

While we were in Georgia my argula went to seed. At least it looks really pretty when you can't eat it anymore!

Vacation to the Hospital

 My father had his colon surgery on 6/23 and we planned to visit my parents for the beginning of July and then travel for a couple of days to the Outer Banks. However, right before we were going to leave, my dad developed blood clots and was air lifted to a hospital a couple of hours away from my parents' house in the mountains. So our vacation was a vacation to the hospital. I do not recommend.

My dad is home now and doing well. We need a vacation from our vacation. While I was in various waiting rooms, I read physical books. The Trip was the first book I finished. I bought this because I liked the cover, and I took it on 'vacation' because of the tag line: "A perfect vacation. A perfect crime." It's a good take on vacation book, the plot is not difficult to follow. It is a slow-building story, and some of the twists you'll figure out quickly.

Over all I'd say it's a 4 star book. 

The pizza at the hospital in Gainesville, GA is decent if you ever find yourself there. After spending about a week there, I'll be happy never to have to go back! I'm sure my dad feels the same way.

Tomorrow Only A Huge Stuff Your EReader Day!

 Set your alarm clock and get ready for a bunch of free books to fill up your Kindle! My book "It App-ened One Night" is part of this big promotion done with a huge group of romance writers. In my graphic, you can see some of the other books! 

Now, just so you know, my book is actually free right now. I set it up to be free from 7/21 to 7/24. I also put my first two books on sale for 99 cents each! Get em while they're hot!

And if you do happen to read any of my books, please give it a star rating and/or a review. Unless you read it and decide it's not for you. 

Happy free reading!!!!